Projection, keys to victory and game notes: (1) Auburn vs. (5) Michigan

ATLANTA, Ga. -- Auburn couldn't ask for a better opportunity than what is in front of them right now. Two games inside State Farm Arena in Atlanta to make the second Final Four in program history? Bruce Pearl will take it. The Auburn players will take it. And the Auburn fans will surely take it. Just look at ticket prices, mainly due to the demand from Tigers' supporters. With 24,700 living alumni in the Atlanta Metro Area, it is the second-largest alumni base in the country, according to the Auburn Alumni Association. Nearly all 12,900 fans who attended the Tigers’ 91-53 rout of Ohio State as part of Holiday Hoopsgiving on Dec. 14 at State Farm Arena were Auburn fans. Outside of playing inside Neville Arena, I'm not sure Auburn could ask for a better venue and location to play significant postseason basketball games. Maybe Legacy Arena in downtown Birmingham, but that's about it.